verizon communications warned today hurricane sandy could wreak havoc on its fourth quarter earnings. the wireless, phone and internet provider took on major damage in the storm. four of its facilities in new york flooded. as sylvia hall reports, verizon's warning is a sign of the damage felt by the tele- communications industry. >> reporter: just like with other telecom companies, verizon employees are working hard to restore service to the northeast. but it's not easy when they're also pumping water out of the basements of their flooded new york facilities, which are running on generator power. the company announced today that sandy's aftermath will likely extend to fourth quarter earnings. analysts say the entire industry could feel it too. >> you can't hang an exact dollar amount on it, but when they come out this quickly and this early in the response, it's going to make a dent. i think people looking at the telecom space this quarter definitely need to realize that. >> reporter: in all, the storm knocked out a quarter of the cell towers in its path, according to the federal gove